Posted!

Join the Conversation

Comments

This conversation is moderated according to USA TODAY's
community rules.
Please read the rules before joining the discussion.

Incumbents reign in York City Council Democratic primary

Mark walters, YorkDailyRecord
Published 11:50 p.m. ET May 19, 2015

CLOSE

Incumbent York city council person Carol Hill-Evans, center, and Sandie Walker celebrate their victories at the York County democratic headquarters after the primary election Tuesday, May 19, 2015. Kate Penn â ” Daily Record/Sunday News(Photo: Kate Penn)

Barring a successful write-in or a third-party candidate in November, Hill-Evans, Helfrich and Walker will serve on the council next year.

At 32 years old, Walker, a city school district board member, would be the youngest council member, also serving with Councilwoman Renee Nelson and Council Vice President Henry Nixon, unless Nixon wins his bid for York County Commission.

Nixon advanced in the Democratic primary Tuesday, but will serve on council through November and step down if elected to the commission. His council term expires at the end of 2017.

If Nixon is elected to the commission in November, the city would have to appoint someone to fill the vacancy, with that person serving the remainder of the position's term, according to York County elections officials.

"I'll take this as some approval that they feel I'm doing a good job," Helfrich said of clearing the primary.

Given the contentious nature of his last effort to get on council, Helfrich said this time around was a great campaign with five candidates who all respected each other.

"Being that (voters) gave me a chance, I was hoping to do a good job," Helfrich said of his first term.

Hill-Evans said she felt exhilarated and humbled by being Tuesday's top vote-getter. "I think that I'm definitely needed on city council, and the voters feel that way, too," she said.

Balancing the city's budget without raising property taxes and modernizing legislation on the books are two priorities for Hill-Evans, who said some city laws have been on the books since 1741.

This would be her third term in office. She tried to change the city's Neighborhood Improvement Ordinance last month, but the council did not vote on the proposed amendments. She has said the ordinance's warning system makes it cumbersome and difficult to enforce.

Walker could not be reached for comment. She said during her campaign that she will vote against tax increases and rebuild faith in the city's educational system.

She also said she plans to work with York Mayor Kim Bracey and her administration to increase payments in lieu of taxes, advocate legislators to push for pension reform while supporting efforts to streamline pensions across the state.

If elected in November, Walker would serve on the city school board for the remainder of the year before joining the council in January.

Results

The top three vote-getters move on to the fall.

Democratic

Amy Chamberlin 541

Carla Christopher 372

Michael Helfrich 985

Carol Hill-Evans 1,134

Sandie Walker 797

Find primary results here.

2015 primary

Click here for more photos from this story.

See live results

Why I voted: York countians vote for a variety of reasons

Went down to the Cross Roads, got some chicken corn soup, and voted

Look back: Voters head to the polls for primary in York County

Pennsylvania state primary: polls close, votes counted

Primary win sets up ex-councilman to be Philadelphia mayor

Scenes from York County polls

Results

Police officer, probation officer top district justice vote-getters in York

Jennifer Clancy takes district justice race in Spring Garden Twp., North York, West York

Three to vie for two seats on York County Court bench in November

Incumbents reign in York City Council Democratic primary

Laura Manifold takes district justice race in southern York County district